THE idea is a provocative one. Removing the Mackintosh Building from the auspices of the Glasgow School of Art would end more than 100 years of history, and extricate what many artists, staff and alumni believe is the heart of the institution from the body of the school.
However, after two fires in four years, not only Mr Billcliffe, who suggests the change in his submission to the Culture Committee of the Scottish Parliament, has expressed frustration and anger at the GSA.
In his submission, he says the Mack is a world class work of art - and should be henceforth treated as such.
He writes: “It would be unthinkable to restore a work of art from the National Galleries, say, and then offer access to it to the person who damaged it in the first place. But this is the scenario if the building is still to be retained by the School of Art on its current basis.”
He also calls for a full investigation into the school’s administration at the time of the 2014 fire and subsequent refurbishment.
Billcliffe, as others do, believes that the causes and circumstances of the original fire still pose many questions.
There is often anger when there are no quick or ready answers to potent and emotional questions. The world is waiting for the police and fire officers to investigate the ruins of the Mack, to find out what caused or accelerated the blaze this summer. I understand that the current theory is that the fire began in the roof of the east gable of the building, and then spread west and down to the ABC venue. Until that report is written, much anger and disbelief will remain.
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